In early 2026, the memory industry witnessed a drastic price surge. Samsung and SK Hynix announced that their Q1 DRAM quotations skyrocketed by 60%-70% compared to the previous quarter. Triggered by the booming AI demand and structural imbalance in production capacity, this price wave has quickly transmitted down the industrial chain, exerting a significant impact on Shenzhen-based Qtenboard, a leading manufacturer of interactive flat panels, LCD video walls, and smart display devices.

  The most immediate impact is the soaring cost pressure. Qtenboard’s core products, including interactive whiteboards, LCD video walls, and smart signage, are highly reliant on DRAM chips for data processing and storage. Currently, the cost share of storage components in the display industry has jumped from 10%-15% to 18%-25%. Coupled with the sharp DRAM price hike, it is expected to push up Qtenboard’s product costs by 8%-15%. Operating in a sector long plagued by homogeneous competition and squeezed profit margins, the price surge further compresses Qtenboard’s profitability.

  Supply chain stability and production plans are also facing severe challenges. Global DRAM production is 90% concentrated in giants like Samsung and SK Hynix, which prioritize supplying high-margin sectors such as AI servers. For traditional device manufacturers like Qtenboard, they only offer quarterly contracts and refuse long-term supply agreements. If Qtenboard fails to secure sufficient DRAM chips stably, production delays may occur, particularly impacting its customized OEM/ODM business. Meanwhile, the buffer effect of low-cost inventories prevalent in the industry is fading, with January 2026 marking a critical period for absorbing price increases, escalating the risk of disrupted production continuity.